Isiolo County Government, News, Tenders, Contacts, Website and Map

Isiolo County News

Isiolo County is located in the upper eastern region of Kenya. It borders seven counties with Garissa to the east, Wajir to the north east, Meru to the south west, Samburu to the east and Marsabit to the north west, with Kitui and Tana River counties to the south west and south east respectively.

Expectations are high about the Isiolo County. Across the beautiful hills, valleys,acacia trees and the savannah grasslands of Isiolo, winds of change are blowing. Isiolo is a virgin space, a wonderful piece of creation. The Isiolians and Kenyans alike are up-beat on how they are going to fit into the Isiolo County and the Isiolo ecosystem. Isiolo sits at the center of the world that is watching keenly at the unfolding developments taking place there. Isiolo’s strategic position is irresistible and attractive to local and international investors.

The realization and implementation of the Isiolo resort city was initiated three years ago by the former president of Kenya Hon. Mwai Kibaki when he officially launched the construction of the Isiolo international Airport and later the LAPSSET(Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport) Corridor project. In addition, an abattoir is nearing completion and disease free zones have been identified to feed it with three hundred animals per day. Among the highlights of the Isiolo County is the Isiolo resort city, the Lamu-Isiolo-Juba and Nairobi-Isiolo-Ethiopia superhighways, the Isiolo International Airport, the Isiolo refinery, the Isiolo artificial lake, the Isiolo film industry and Isiolo tourist villages. The Isiolo resort city by design sits between two hills on the Kipsing Gap and is modeled to have a wonderful coexistence with nature with a golf course and tourist villages at its midst. The city will border an artificial lake, Lewa conservancy, the Samburu game reserve and Isiolo old town.The massive artificial lake will be a wonderful sight to behold with fishing and boat racing as the main tourist attractions. The lake waters will irrigate the semi-arid land into green orchards and forests.

Isiolians derive their livelihood from entertaining tourists who come seasonally to watch and interact with the wildlife, the Isiolo Big five (Grevy Zebra, Oryx, Somali Ostrich, Lion, reticulated giraffe). The Isiolo Big Five are found in the Buffalo springs game reserve bordering Samburu game reserve, Shaba game reserve and Bisnadi game reserve near Meru game reserve.

Isiolo game reserves that house The Sarova Lodge, Simba Lodge and Bisinadi Lodge are part of tourist circuit that spans Masai Mara, Samburu-Isiolo, Lewa and Mt Kenya. According to the Governor, the wildlife and the culture of Isiolo people, the Samburu, Turkana, Borona, Gabra, Somali, Ameru are intertwined and must be conserved at all costs. An array of technologies such as surveillance aircrafts have been proposed to eradicate poaching and enhance security in the game parks. The Government of Isiolo will ensure that the rapid infrastructural development does not disrupt nature.

Isiolo is poised to become an economic elephant, an industrial hub and international trade center. Among the key projects the Isiolo Governmentplans to initiate are the solar and wind Energy farms, Broadband connectivity to every primary school and massive irrigation projects.

Geography, Weather and the Climate of Isiolo County

Most parts of the County are arid and receive less than 150 mm per year. Some areas such as Garbatulla are completely dry and no agricultural activities can be carried out.

The Kinna region of the County represents the semi-arid area that support pastoralism. However, during the dry seasons pastrolists move to neighboring counties in search of water and pasture for their livestock.

In general, the county receives low rainfall of between 300-500 mm annually, and experiences temperatures of between 12°C and 28°C. The common vegetation is shrubs and acacia trees due to the dry nature of the area.

The average altitude of Isiolo County is 200-300 meters above the sea level although some parts of the county go up to 1000 meters above sea level. The lowest point of the county is Lorian swamp.

Economic Activities in the County of Isiolo

The Ameru people in the area practice agriculture and livestock rearing in small scale. They mainly grow vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes and carrots which are sold in Isiolo and Nanyuki town. Livestock rearing is practiced widely in Kinna and around Lorian Swamp where pasture and water are available.

Livestock products are consumed within Isiolo town and the rest supplied to major towns and cities like Nairobi. The Kenya Meat Commission is a major buyer of livestock from the farmers. Borana and Turkana women participate in jewelry making, crafting jewelry for sell to tourists who frequent the town.

Tourist Attractions in Isiolo County

Tourist attractions in Isiolo County include: Lewa Downs, Buffalo Springs, Shaba, and Bisanadi game reserves. These attractions attract both local and foreign tourists.

Tourist Attractions In IsioloCounty- Shaba National Reserve

Animal Reserves

Shaba National Reserve

Category: Touirist Attractions in Isiolo County

Shaba National Reserve Kenya is the home of Joy Adamson’s monument. There is one lodge in Shaba with 178 beds and one tented lodge with 34. The major attractions are the scenic landscape and riverine forest and 17 springs where animal congregate during the dry season.

Bisanandi National Reserve

Category: Touirist Attractions in Isiolo County

Bisanandi National Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary also called Kinna national reserve with an area of 606sq km. It is managed by the Kws.

Bisanandi National Reserve is next to the Meru National Park and the border between the two parks is the traditional boundary between the Meru and the Borana people of eastern province, the reserve was opened in September 1979.

Accommodation and Hotels/Restaurant in Isiolo

The county has several hotels and lodges which offer affordable accommodation. Some of the hotels include Hills restaurant and Shaba Game Lodge. Other more affordable hotels Isiolo town include Bonen Hotel, Moti Pearl Hotel and Mocharo lodge.

Banks in Isiolo town

Hospitals in Isiolo County

The only district hospital in the county is Isiolo District hospital. However, there are 24 small health centers found in different wards of the county. Private hospital located in Isiolo town is Al Falah medical Centre.

Education in Isiolo

The county has over 90 primary schools, 11 secondary schools and 1 tertiary institution. Among the top schools in the county are Isiolo Boys High school, Isiolo Girls High School and Garbatula High School. St. Mary’s Secretarial College is the only tertiary institution in the region.

Isiolo County Tenders

Isiolo county tenders are awarded in a free, fair and transparency manner in the need to fight corruption in the country.

To access tenders in Isiolo county click the link: http://www.isiolo.go.ke/tenders for the latest job opportunities in the county.